Being an influencer can have its perks — free stuff, fancy invites, and a lot of attention. But sometimes, it can go horribly wrong. One influencer recently found that out the hard way when they reached out to a restaurant, asking for a free meal. Instead of scoring some brunch, they got a public roast — and it’s safe to say, they did not take it well.
Lucky Ramen and Sushi, a popular restaurant in Manchester, UK, became the center of attention when an influencer asked for a free brunch for themselves and their partner in exchange for a social media post. The message read:
“Hey, sorry I know it’s short notice but I’m in Manchester tomorrow and looking for somewhere for brunch with my partner. Would you be open for a collab for a post on my story and page?”
The restaurant didn’t exactly jump at the chance. Instead, they decided to share the DM on their own Instagram story — with the influencer’s identity hidden — and made their stance loud and clear. Their response was dripping with sarcasm:
“REALLY? Oh, what a surprise! Another thrilling DM from a blue tick superstar asking for a free feast in exchange for an Insta post. Because, you know, exposure pays the bills! We’re just thrilled that you appreciate our food, but hey, we appreciate paying customers even more!”
The post quickly went viral, and it wasn’t long before the influencer caught wind of it. Spoiler alert: They weren’t happy. Furious, they fired back with a long-winded message that the restaurant shared in a follow-up post.
“Personally, I think you’re bang out of order. HOW DARE you try and expose us like that??? So you think people like us don’t deserve to eat for FREE??? Just in case you didn’t realize, we are doing our best to help and promote you for FREEEE!!!”
They went on to insist that influencers put in time, labor, effort, and positive energy to help businesses and that they deserved some compensation — namely, free food. They ended their rant by promising never to visit the restaurant and declaring that they’d eat wherever they wanted — all for free, of course.
The restaurant didn’t hold back in their clapback either, adding another dose of humor to the situation. They sarcastically offered to roll out the red carpet and hand over everything from the chef’s Crocs to a family heirloom, joking that the influencer could collect their “well-deserved goodies” anytime.
Naturally, the internet had a field day. Commenters were quick to take sides, with many applauding the restaurant for standing their ground. One local business even chimed in, saying, “She sent me the same one. Imagine if I accepted for the lols and brought her a jam sandwich from my apartment.”
Others urged the restaurant to reveal the influencer’s identity, saying it was only fair to expose someone with such an entitled attitude. One comment summed it up perfectly: “They must be broke influencers if they’re begging for a free meal. Name & Shame to return the support.”
It’s safe to say that influencer culture is a hot topic, and not everyone is on board with the idea of freebies for exposure. What do you think? Should restaurants give in to social media stars, or is it time to put a stop to the entitlement? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
